Chapter 572: Ming God Emperor

Yan Buji set out for the Reincarnation Tree Sea, and the two factions had already arrived before the Reincarnation Tree Sea.

The Reincarnation Tree Sea is considered a very dangerous and unpredictable place within the new Nether Realm.

Because this is not elsewhere, but the territory of the so‑called Ming God Emperor, the Nether Beast Emperor, in the new Nether Realm.

"The Ming God Emperor attained the emperor's seat in the Nether Realm a million years ago; back then it fought a great battle against our ancestors and the Rakshasa ancestors, and was forced to retreat here. It has been over a million years now, and I wonder whether it has healed its wounds."

Chang Wu appeared before the Reincarnation Tree Sea, looking at the lush primeval forest and could not help but sigh.

The Reincarnation Tree Sea occupies one‑tenth of the new Nether Realm, and the Ming God Emperor treats it as its own domain, so it naturally forbids cultivators of the Shura clan and Rakshasa clan from entering; even if possible, Chang Wu does not wish to come.

"So? I didn't send you to find the Huang Tian Soul's whereabouts, why did you come here?" A figure appeared beside Chang Wu, the person whose cheek was identical to Yan Buji's.

He looked at Chang Wu with displeasure, waiting for a response.

Chang Wu said helplessly, "What I discovered is that the Huang Tian Soul is also here."

"What?"

The person was stunned, then furrowed his brows: "Could it be that the Ming God Emperor has taken both the Huang Tian and Houtu souls?"

"Probably not. With its power, if it had obtained them back then, it would have progressed further by now."

"Indeed." The person nodded.

The Huang Tian and Houtu souls are the source of the Nether Realm; if the Ming God Emperor, which has long thrived in the Nether Realm, obtained both, it could refine them and break limits, reaching the level of saints and sages.

Chang Wu looked ahead and said, "In that case, you should still go personally to confront the Ming God Emperor; if you can stall it for a while, that would be best."

"Hmph, don't later tell me you didn't get it."

"That won't happen." Chang Wu smiled.

He's come himself; what mishap could occur?

"Then that's best."

As they spoke, the two vanished simultaneously, heading into the Reincarnation Tree Sea.

Soon, the person walked with a steady and resolute stride toward an ancient, desolate cave. As he approached, a stale, decaying aura brushed his face, as if telling of the ages' vicissitudes.

"Who?"

A massive threatening voice rang out; the person smiled lightly, "I am the priest of the Starry Sky Sect."

"Just a mere outer god, what are you doing here? Do you really think I don't know your origins?"

"Hmph." He said nothing more, only smiling, "Why not come out for a meeting?"

After the echo in the cave faded, a Nether Beast resembling a savanna lion emerged from the cave, about three to four meters long, exuding an aura that pressed the surrounding gloom downwards; the ground trembled slightly with each of its steps.

The lion's body was as black as ink, its eyes crystal‑clear like jade, its whole form covered in scale armor, with antlers sprouting from its head, giving it an extraordinary demeanor.

It spoke, "Outer god, what are you doing here?!"

"Ming God Emperor, I demand your Earth Soul."

"Impossible! I will not hand over this treasure concerning the Nether Realm's life and death to an outer god!" The Ming God Emperor shook his head, saying so, but made no other move.

Imagine if someone boldly asked you for the key to your home's safe, would you give it?

Of course not; you'd even get angry and beat the person!

That's the current situation: the Ming God Emperor's refusal shows no other action, indicating there is room for negotiation.

The person smiled, "Since that's the case, I'll leave then."

"Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean, outer god? You woke me up from sleep, and now you just leave?"

"What?" He raised an eyebrow, "You still want to keep me?"

The Ming God Emperor suddenly gave a very human‑like smile, lying on the ground looking at him, "Tell me, what's the outside world like?"

The person was puzzled, "What kind of 'what'? What do you want to know?"

"Since the outside world can host beings as powerful as you, there must also be beings even stronger, right?"

The person's face darkened, "I advise you to stop probing these matters; knowing too much won't benefit you."

"Then the saints and sages say we are livestock raised in a pen, and only by following destiny can we survive— is that true?"

"You also believe that sort of talk?"

The Ming God Emperor spread his paws, speaking in a human‑like way, "I naturally do not believe it, but ever since the Nether Realm split, I have felt something constantly watching me— is it related to you outer gods?"

The person was stunned, furrowing his brows, "Explain in detail, what feeling is that?"

"The feeling… familiar yet strange, as if I sensed it long ago."

The person realized, "I see, no wonder you could break through in the Nether Realm."

The Ming God Emperor asked, "So it's indeed related?"

The person thought for a moment, sat down and said, "Since you want to know what the outside world is like, I'll talk with you about it."

"Why are you now willing to speak?"

"Will you listen?"

"Listen, go ahead."

The person said without enthusiasm, "The outside world is far more hopeless than here; a very strong, very strong person went through the primordial End‑Times, the ancient Wild Age, then opened the Cultivation Age, the Star Sea Age, and now no one knows just how powerful he truly is."

"Oh, but I feel you don't respect him much."

"Hm?!" The person's face changed dramatically, "You damn it must not speak recklessly! Though I am dissatisfied with his attitude of holding everything, that does not mean I don't respect his power."

"So you're still dissatisfied, therefore this world's Existence is to let you find someone who can deal with him?"

The person's expression softened, smiling, "You seem to know a lot, don't you?"

"But that person is not I." The Ming God Emperor sighed, "I wish to leave this world, but it seems I cannot."

The person smiled, "Why think so many things? How many can escape?"

"Aren't you outer gods free to come and go?"

"Hmph." The person replied discontentedly, "Do you think I paid what price to come here? To come and go freely— do you think energy is conserved?"

What is meant by conservation of energy?

The techniques we cast out either hit or disappear; in the end they act somewhere, then vanish between heaven and earth. And we cannot draw power from this world.

The Nether God Emperor froze for a moment: "Then isn't it saying that as long as we exhaust the power of your body, we can drive you away?"

I thought you wanted to kill me.

Not that bad. The Nether God Emperor stood up, laughing: "I only want to give you damned outer gods a good lesson!"

That person laughed: "If it had been like this earlier, it would have been fine. After I teach you a lesson, I'll give you the Soul of the Earth Goddess, and that would also be according to the rules!"

While they were speaking, both sides disappeared from the spot, leaving the Sea of Reincarnation Trees, and no one knew where they had gone.